Circlewood
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CIRCLEWOOD'S MISSION IS TO ACCELERATE THE GREENING OF HUMANITY THROUGH SPIRITUAL RENEWAL, ECOLOGICAL LEADERSHIP, AND CREATIVE EARTHKEEPING.
- Income
- $483,954
- Spending
- $373,363
- Spent on programs
- 61%
- Reserves
- 18.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 98%
- Employees
- 5
- Volunteers
- 70
- Highest pay
- $108,855, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 18.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 40% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1561% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $229,159 spent. IN OUR MEDIA WORK, WE COMPLETED OUR SIXTH EARTHKEEPERS PODCAST SEASON. WE ALSO GREW THE READERSHIP OF OUR ONLINE JOURNAL, THE ECOLOGICAL DISCIPLE. IN OUR EDUCATION WORK, WE CONTINUED TO DEVELOP OUR UNIQUE FRAMEWORK, THE JOURNEY OF ECOLOGICAL DISCIPLESHIP. WE COMPLETED ONE ECOLOGICAL LEADERSHIP COHORT, CO-PILOTED A VOCATIONAL DISCERNMENT PROGRAM WITH THE TRINITY EDUCATION FOUNDATION, CONTINUED WORK WITH AREA CHURCHES, AND HOSTED A WEEKLONG PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS CALLED EDIFY: ECOLOGICAL DISCIPLESHIP IMMERSION FOR YOUTH. IN OUR DEVELOPMENT OF CIRCLEWOOD VILLAGE (RETREAT AND LEARNING CENTER), WE COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION ON OUR FIRST BUILDING, THE SINE CENTER FOR ECOLOGICAL LEARNING, BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON A SMALL OFFICE, HOSTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, VOLUNTEER WORK PARTIES, AND CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT ASPECTS OF OUR 30-YEAR FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN. IN OUR MEDIA WORK, WE COMPLETED OUR SIXTH EARTHKEEPERS PODCAST SEASON. WE ALSO GREW THE READERSHIP OF OUR ONLINE JOURNAL, THE ECOLOGICAL DISCIPLE. IN OUR EDUCATION WORK, WE CONTINUED TO DEVELOP OUR UNIQUE FRAMEWORK, THE JOURNEY OF ECOLOGICAL DISCIPLESHIP. WE COMPLETED ONE ECOLOGICAL LEADERSHIP COHORT, CO-PILOTED A VOCATIONAL DISCERNMENT PROGRAM WITH THE TRINITY EDUCATION FOUNDATION, CONTINUED WORK WITH AREA CHURCHES, AND HOSTED A WEEKLONG PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS CALLED EDIFY: ECOLOGICAL DISCIPLESHIP IMMERSION FOR YOUTH. IN OUR DEVELOPMENT OF CIRCLEWOOD VILLAGE (RETREAT AND LEARNING CENTER), WE COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION ON OUR FIRST BUILDING, THE SINE CENTER FOR ECOLOGICAL LEARNING, BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON A SMALL OFFICE, HOSTED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, VOLUNTEER WORK PARTIES, AND CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT ASPECTS OF OUR 30-YEAR FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2004.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.